August 2026

Journal

A novel closed-form inversion of the convection–diffusion equation for rapid convection, diffusion, and source profile estimation

By:
Hinson, Edward T; Bykov, Igor; Chrobak, C; Chrystal, Colin; Collins, Cami S; Evans, T.E.; Grierson, B.A.; Schmitz, Oliver; Unterberg, Ezekial A
Journal Name:
Physics of Plasmas
Page Number:
103904
Volume:
32
Issue Number:
10
Publication Date:
August 2026
View DOI Listing:
https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0287207

Abstract

To simplify and routinize particle transport analysis in fusion devices, a novel closed form linear inversion of the 1-D convection diffusion equation to estimate diffusion and convection profiles D(r ⃗ ), v(r ⃗ ) and source distribution s(r ⃗ ), of a single species from measured data is derived and demonstrated on synthetic data. Profile estimates of D(r ⃗ ), v(r ⃗ ), s(r ⃗ ) and their uncertainties are given as a matrix expression constructed directly from the incoming density data of the transported species in space and time, as well as physics assumptions such as particle conservation and experimental geometry. The derived matrix expression can be applied to a pumped or non-pumped recycling species, or a non-recycling species that is effectively “pumped” by plasma-facing surfaces.